Vending-machine.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

I. FRITSGHB.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 2213.1. 1907.

4 SHBETB-BEEET 1.

PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

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4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 gvweuoz J'. FRITSGHE.

VBNDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED rms: 1. 1907 PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

Z, M WM jm M w 1-/ k A. Jl J fm J FRITSCHE VBNDINGl MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEBA. 1907.

No. 892,243. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908. J FRITSGHE VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 1. 1907.

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JOHN FRITSCHE, 0F PHILADELPHA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application led- February 1, 1907. Serial N'o. 855,185.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Fnrrsonn, a citizen ofthe United States, residing-in-the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Vendin Machine, of which the following is a speci cation.

My present invention consists ofa novel construction of a vending machine which'is' especially adaptedfor vending articles of food and in which such` articles may be kept at a substantially constant temperature, although it is to be understood that my novel construction of machine may be employed to advantage in the vending of any desired article.

To the above ends my invention broadly consists of a novel construction of a rotatable container from which the articles may be readily removed, when the door of the vending machine casing or its adjuncts is opened, in combination with a novel construction of locking and unlocking mechanism for the door, which latter is adapted to coact with the rotatable container in orderl to revent any improper movement thereof w e-n the articles are being removed from said container. f

It further consists of a novel construction of .locking mechanism which coacts with the coin container to cause the door to be positively locked on the rotation of the drum or container for the articles to be sold, which takes place when the machine is being filled. It further consists of a novel construction of actuating lever for the locking mechanism by the employment of which any damage caused by the machine being actuated, when 4 the same is inoperative, is positively prevented.

lt further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully setforth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof, since this embodi ment best illustrates the principle of the invention and gives satisfactory and reliable results in practice, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can b e variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities, as herein shown,

Figure l represents a plan view artly broken away of a vending machine em ody- .andI its adjuncts with which it coacts.

ing my invention. Fig. 2 representsa section on line -:v, Fig. '1. Flg. 3 represents Va perspective view of my inventlon, the

same being viewed from the rear.` Fig. 4

re resents a sectional view of a portiorrof Fig. 3 showing more clearly a coin carrier and its adjuncts. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view of a portion of the container, vdoor and other adjuncts. Fig. 6 represents a sectional view of a portion of the machine showin the door in open position and a portion o the means for actuating the door. Fi 7 represents a perspective view of la portlon of the lever which coacts with the door. Fig. 8 re resents a perspective view of a portion of t e lever seen in Fig. 7 and a ortion of the door Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary section showing the manner in which the door is held in closed position. Fig. 10` represents a sectional view of a portion of a container which may be employed in my vending machine. Fig. 11 represents a sectional plan view of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 represents a front elevation of a vending machme embodying my invention in which a container having a series ofcompartments is employed.-

Similar numerals of reference indicate correslponding parts in the figures.

eferring to the drawings z-The frame of the machine varies in sizeA and contour in accordance with the articles which it is desired to vend therein and 'the number of com artments in the container, and in the em odiment herein shown comprises a referably hollow base member l from whic extends the standards or suppo'rts 2 to which is secured a top member 3, which I have in the present instance shown as being recessed or cut away to form a skeleton frame work in order to lighten the structure. The front of the machine is closed and protected by a plate 4 which is acpertured or cut away as indicated at 5, sai aperture being closed by means of a door 6 pivoted therein, as is clearly indicated at 7 in Fig. 6. The door 6 is provided with glass or other transparent material 8 which engages slots or grooves 9 in the door 6, although the same may be carried by the door in any other suitable manner such as is well known in the art.

10 designates flanges carried by the sides of the door 6, the inner faces of which are reversely inclined, as seen at 1l and are ada ted to form slots 12 withwhich the locking means coact.

13 designates a connecting arm or lever located within thehollow base 1 and having arm 13 and extending upwardly through an aperture or slot 2() in the upper portion of the hollow base 1, said lever 19 having a deflected end 21 which co-acts with the groove or slotl 12 on the opposite side of the door 6, as will be apparent from Fig. 3. The arm 13 has pivoted thereto at 22, one end of an el` bow lever 23, which latter is pivoted at 24 within the hollow base 1, the op osite end of said lever 23 being preferably sfbtted, as indicated at 25. i

26 designate guides carried by the base 1 in any suitable manner and with which coperates the flanges 27 of a movable coin container or holder 28, the aperture 29 of which registers at certain times with apertures 30 in the base 1 as will be clearly understood from Fig. 4.

31 designates an arm extending from the coin retainer'28 and to which is secured a pin 32, the lower end of which passes through aperture 33 in the base and engages theslot 25 in the elbow lever 23. Y

34 desi nates a lug or upright having apertures 35 ierein' through which is adapted to pass a pin or screw 36, the end of said pin passing through a slot 37 in the side of the container 28 so that said pin, when the coin carrier 28 is in its normal position, prevents the coin passing through the coin retainer 28.

. 38 designates a stationary coin slot carried by the frameof the machine in any suitable manner and registering with the coinaperture 39 in the front plate 4.

v4() designates a reinforced a erture in the container 28' through which 1s adapted to pass a bar or lever 41, which extends through an aperture 42 in the front plate and is provided at its outer end with an actuating handle or presser member 43.

44 designates -a set collar adjustably mounted on the actuating lever 41, to which is secured or integral therewith, if desired, a lever arm 47, the outer end of which is de'- flected upwardly, and in the present instance suitably recessed, in order to provide for'the same having pivoted thereto at 48 one end of a lever arm 49. v

50 designates a "spring, one end of which is secured to the lever arm 49, the other end thereof being secured to the lever 47, in order.

to maintain the arts in their normal position, as indicated) in Figs. 3 and 7, it being noted, as seen in Fig. 3, that a portion of the lever arm 47 extends upwardly as seen at 51,

vprojection carried bv f holder 28 in any suitable manner.

eeaaas 'in order to form a stop to limit the movement movement of the cam member 53, which nor-y mally extends above the fulcrum of the door, as is indicated in dotted llines Fig. 6.

56 designates a drum or container having vpivot members, 57 and 58 on opposite sides thereof, it being noted that the base 1, as seen in Fig. 3, is slotted as at 59, in order that the ivot 58 may engage the bearing 60 therefor. he pivot 57 co-acts with a detachable plug 61 which, in the present instance, passes hrough a suitable portion of the top memer 3. s

62 designates an actuating lever for the container which is adapted to co-act with a spring 63 and thus maintain the container 56 in its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 1. 64 designates a slot or aperture in the top portion of the container 56 which is adapted to coact with an upwardly extendin lug or the door 6, 1t being noted that the front p ate 4 is suitably recessed as at 66, in order to ermit the lug or cam member 65 to interloc with the aperture or slot 64 in the container 56, thereby maintaining the container in the position indicated in Fig. 6, when the door 6 has been opened, it being seen that the sides of the container 56 are cut away, as indicated atl 67,v in order that the articles carried Within said container may be accessible to the purchaser when the door 6 has been o ened.

68 designates a cam bloc carried bythe receiver or container 56 which-is adapted to coact with the lug'or cam member 65, in

order that the door 6 will be in proper position to be engaged by the locking mechanism therefor.

69 designates a set screwadjustably carried by a suitable portion of the frame against which the actuating handle 62 strikes during the operation to limit the rotation of the container 56.

70 designates a bracket carried bythe container 56 andA rovided with a set screw 71, the end of Whic is adapted to engage a plate or contact member 72 carried by the coin The container 56 is preferably provided with a number of compartments and in Fig. 11v I have shown a different form of container which can be ern loyed.

ln ig. 10, l have shown a container which may be employed to advantage for articles of food which it is desired to keep in a heated condition.y

in the guides-26.

In 10, 73 designates the outer casing of the container or drum, said casing terminating at 74 in order to provide an opening through which the article within the container may be removed.

75 designates an inner casing which is connected with the outer casing 73 and between these two casings any suitable heating material such vas warm water is placed, as indicated at 76. In the present instance, I have shown in Fig. 10 a portion of one container in which two `shelves or partitions 77 are seen, but it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that the number of compartments and the number of shelves em loyed will vary according to the capacity o the machine which it is desired to build.

For convenience of illustration, I have shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a construction in which the container has a single compartment but it is to be understood that in prac tice a construction such as is seen in Fig. 12 is preferablj7 employed, in which the container is provided with a series of compartments, each of which has a separate door leading thereto and each separate door has an independent coin slot and door actuating mechanism and it will be apparent that the operation of openin and closing the different doors will be precise y the same in every case.

The operation will now be readily aplparent and is as follows :-Assuming that t e container or drum 56 is filled and is normally in its operative position in which it is maintained b the curved end of the spring 63 engaging tiie lever 62, a coin is inserted in the aperture 39 and passes through the slot 38 and is discharged into the coin receiver 28 but is not permitted to pass therethrough owing to its engagement with the end of the pin 36, it being noted that in the present instance the machine is adapted to be actuated by the em loyment of either one or more coins and will first describe the manner in which the machine is actuated by a single coin -in which case the pinl 36 is located in the upper aperture 35 of the lug or bracket 34.

Having the coin receiver in the position indicated in Fig. 3, the intending purchaser resses the lever handle-34 thus causing the ever 41 to move inwardly and engage the coin which has been stopped in the coin holder 28 by .the pin 36. On the further movement of the'lever or rod 41 the coin receiver 28 will be moved rearwardly owing to the manner in which it is movably mounted As the coin' receiver 28 moves rearwardly, the pin 32 coacting with the slot 25 of the elbow lever 23 will cause said lever to turn on its pivot and the connecting arm 13 pivoted to said lever 23 at 22 will cause the operative ends 21 and 18 of the levers 19 and 15 to be moved out of engagement with the slots 12, so that the door will be unlocked, it being noted that the lever 19 is rigidly secured to the connecting lever 13 while the lever 15 is pivoted to said lever 13 so that when the connecting arm4 13 moves towards the right, the-operative end of the levers 15 and 19 respectively will be moved inthe o posite direction and unlock the door. As the lever 41 is moved forwardly against the tension of the spring 45, the arm or lever 47 connected with the lever 41 will cause the lever 49 to move rearwardly carrying with it the cam member 53. The cam member 53 on its rearward movement coacts with the cam face 54 and owing to the curvature of this cam face the door 6 will be .opened and the parts will assume -the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 6. As the door opens the lug or projection 65 engages the slot or aperture 64 in the rotatable container 56, so that any rotation of the latter, while the door 6 is o ened, is positively prevented. When the intending purchaser releases his pressure on the handle or presser member 43, the lever 41 and its adjuncts return to their normal position owing to the employment of the spring 45. The coin retainer which has been moved into its rearmost position is not returned to its normal position and as the lever 41 moves rearwardly the coin or coins therein will fall through the passage 29 and aperture 30 into any desired form of receiver; The machine is now ready to be relled. The handle 62 is actuated to cause the container 56 to rotate in the direction of the arrow seen in Fig. 1 which will bring the open side formed by the cut away portion 67 into such a position that the reiilhng of the container may be readily accomplished. When the container 56 is rotated the cam member 68 carried thereby engages the lug or cam 65 carried by the door 6 and causes said door to be moved inwardly so that the same is in proper position to be locked. On the further rotation of the container the set screw or equivalent device 71 engages the plate or projection 72 of the coin receiver 28 and causes said receiver or container to move toward the front of the machine thus causing the connecting arm 13 to move so that the ends 18 and 21 of the levers 15 and 19 engage the cam faces 11 of the flanges 10 and are seated in the grooves or slots 12, thus causing the door 6 to be securely locked.

If any one attempts to work the machine when no money has been de osited or the machine is being 4filled, it wi be apparent that owing to the manner in which the levers 447 and 49 are connected there is no liability of any of the actuating parts becoming disarranged or injured in any manner.

I have deemed it unnecessary to describe in detail each of the doors and its actuating mechanism since each would be constructed in a similar manner.

It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that when the pin 36 is removed from the upper aperture 35 and placed in the lower aperture 35 of the standard 34, thecoin 'retainer will be adapted to receive two coins and the upper coin will be in the ath of the lever 41, so that the machine wid then be adapted to be actuated by the use ci two coins. p

l Wish to call special attention to the iact that the container 56 may be kept in a sanitary condition atall times, since'the same may be readily and quickly removed for the purpose of cleaning.

lt Will be further apparent thatmfhen it is desired to remove or re lace any of the actuating parts the iront o the machine will not be interfered With in any manner.

lt Will noW.-be apparent that l have produced a novel and useful construction. of vending machine Which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of invention and the above description and lWhile l have in the present instance shown and described an embodiment thereoi-` Which has given satisfactory and reliable results in practice, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of modification in various particulars Without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacriiicing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. ln a vending machine, the combination With a casing, of a container mounted therein, a door carried by said casing in proximity to said container, locking mechanism for said door, a movable coin retainer connected at all times With said locking mechanism, ac tuating means forV said retainer, means for adapting said retainer to receive more than one coin, and devices carried by said actuating means for operating said door.

2. In a vending machine, the combination With a casing, of a door therefor, a container Within said casing in proximity to said door, locking mechanism for said door, a movable coin retainer to Which said mechanism is at all times connected, actuating means for said retainer, devices coacting `with said means for operating said door and means for re ulating .the number of coins retained in sai coin retainer.

3. ln a vendin machine, the combination With a casing, oi a door carried thereby, a container removably mounted therein, locking mechanism coactin With said door, a movable coin retainer a apted to receive one or more coins connected with said locking mechanism, devices for operating said door, an actuating lever to Which said devices are connected and adapted to move said retainer in one direction, and means` carried by said container for returning said retainer to its normal position.

4. ln a vending machine, the combination With a casing, of a door carried thereby, loclr- .Y

seance ing mechanism coactin with said door, a movable coin retainer a apted to receive one or more coins connected with said locking mechanism, devices for operating said door, an actuating lever to Which said devices are 'connected and adapted to move said retainer in one direction, a container rotatably mounted Within said casing, means carried by said container for returning said retainer to its normal position, and means for limiting the movement of said container.

with a casing, of a door carried thereby, locking mechanism coacting With said door, a movable coin retainer adapted to receive one or more coins connected With said locking mechanism, devices for operating said door, an actuatinglever to Which said devicesare connected and adapted to move said retainer in one direction, lmeans carried by said container for returning said retainer to its normal position, and means carried by said container co-actin With said door to maintain the same in closed position.

5. ln a vending machine, the combination with a casing, oi a door ivoted thereto, a container pivoted in proximity to said door, locking mechanism for said door, devices for opening and closing said door, an actuating -lever for said devices, a movable coin retainer connected With said locking mechanism and actuated by said lever, resilient means for maintaining said container vin normal doorI an coacting With said container to prevent movement of the latter when the door is open.

7. ln a vending machine, the combination With a casing, of a door pivoted thereto, a container rotatably mounted Within said means for maintaining the open side of said container in proximity to said door, locking mechanism for said door, means carried by said container and coacting with said ,door to maintainthe latter in operative relation With said locking means, a movable coin retainer connected With said' locking mechanism, actuating devices for said door and means for l amsm.

with a casing, of a door pivoted therein, a closed container having an open side normally registering with said door, ilanges carried by said door, locking mechanism coacting With said flanges, a movable coin retainer to Which said locking mechanism is connected, a lever adapted to vactuate said retainer in one direction, means for adapting said retainer to receive more than one coin, and door opening mechanismcontrolled by said lever.

9. ln a vendl machine, the combination with a casing, o a door carriedthereby, a

5. ln a vending machine, the combination position, and means carried by said actuating said devices and said locking mechcasing and having an open side, resilient 8. ln a vending machine, thev combination v doors, means carried by said container coactclosed container having a plurality of com- I partments and an open side rotatably mounted Within said casing, said open side normally registering with said door, locking mechanism for said door, a coin retainer' adapted to receive a plurality of coins connected at all times therewith, means coacting with said retainer for unlocking said door,

and devices actuated by said means .for opening said door.

10. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, of a door carried thereby, a'closed container having a plurality of cornpartments rotatably mounted within said casing land having an open side normally registering with said door, locking mechan? ism for said door, a coin retainer adapted to receive one or more coins connected therewith at all times, a lever coacting with said retainer to unlock said door, means carried by said container coacting with said retainer to lock said door, and door opening devices carried by said lever.

11. In a vending machine, the combina- -tion with a casing, of a series of doors carried thereby, a closed container having a plurality of superimposed compartments rotatably mounted within said casing and having an open side normally registering with said doors, locking mechanism for each of said doors, coin retainers ada ted to-receive one or more coins connecte therewith, levers coacting with said retainers to unlock said ing with said retainers to lock said doors, door opening devices actuated by said levers, and means for limiting the movementfof said container.

12. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, of doors carried thereby, a closed container having a plurality of superimposed compartments rotatably' mounted withinsaid casing and having an open side normally registering with said doors, locking mechanism for said doors, coin retainers adapted to receive one or more coins connected therewith, levers coacting with said retainers to unlock said doors, and door opening devices carried by said lever, said door opening devices being adapted to prevent the opening of the door when a coin has not been inserted or the machine is inoperative.

13. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing, a door having side flanges carried thereby, levers adapted to engage with said flanges, `a connecting arm for said levers, a bell crank lever connected with said arm, a coin. retainer operatively connected with said bell crank lever, a lever for moving said retainer to unlock said door, a container rotatably mounted within said casing, means carried thereby coacting with said retainer to lock said door, means carried by said container coacting with said door to bring the latter into proper position for being locked, and door opening devices actuated by said coin retainer actuating lever.

14. In a vending machine, a casing having a hollow base, a door carried by said casing, a container pivoted in said casing and having an open side in proximity to said door, means for maintaining said container in normal position, said door having ilanges on opposite sides thereof, a' connecting arm within said hollow base, a lever ivoted at one end thereof and inde endent y pivoted to said casing and adapte to coact with one of said flanges, a lever carried by saidarm coacting with the other of said flanges, a coin retainer to which said lever is operatively connected, means carried by said container for moving said coin retainer to lock said door, and yielding means for opening said door when the latter is unlocked.

15. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing, of a door carried thereby, a container having an open side pivotally mounted within said casing and having a cam face, a lever having a coacting cani face, a second lever `pivoted to said iirst lever, a spring secured' to said -levers, a coin-controlled actuating lever for said second lever, locking mechanism for said door, a coin retainer connected with said locking mechanism, said actuating lever controlling the opening of said door, and means carried by said containenfor controlling the locking of said door.

16. In a vending machine, the combination with a casing of a container mounted therein, a door carried by said casing in roximity to said container, locking mechanism for said door, a movable coin retainer connected with said locking mechanism', actuating means for said retainer, devices controlled by said actuating means for operating said door, and means carried by said door and co-acting with said container to prevent movement of the latter when the door is opened.

JOHN FRiTscHE.

' Witnesses:

H. S. FAiRBANKs, C. D. MCVAY. 

